Returning Keiko to his Ocean Home

The
dream of returning the orca whale, Keiko to his home waters is coming true.
Nearly five years have passed since Keiko first captured the world's attention
by starring in the "Free Willy" feature movies. In 1994, Earth Island Institute
created the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation with the mission to rescue, rehabilitate,
and potentially release Keiko and other marine mammals.

Thousands of school children made donations to help save Keiko. Sponsorship
also came from the Craig McCaw Foundation, Humane Society of the US, Warner
Bros. and many other companies, scientists, and concerned individuals.

After lots of hard work and preparation, Keiko was moved in January,
1996 from his home at Reino Aventura in Mexico City to a new state-of-the-art
rehabilitation facility at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, Oregon.
On September 9, 1998, the next chapter of the Keiko story came true. Keiko
was airlifted by the US Air Force to a new sea pen off of the tiny volcanic
Westman Islands of Iceland. After nearly 20 years in captivity, Keiko
was able to see the sights and hear the sounds of the Icelandic waters
of his birth!

Keiko's return to Iceland continues the amazing story. 1999 will provide
crucial information as to whether Keiko can be successfully integrated
back into the wild orca population. His arrival is also spurring a dramatic
increase in scientific research on wild orcas and the Icelandic marine
environment. Many people in Iceland are now excited to welcome Keiko back.
There is little doubt that it will lead to a new understanding in Iceland
of the value of watching whales, studying them, and protecting them. Doing
the right thing for Keiko is already helping the world's whales through
raising public awareness regarding the plight of those in the wild and
held captive.